Slide fastener manufacture

ABSTRACT

U-shaped fastener elements are held against fabric with their heads engaging same, the legs of the elements are spread and the elements are stitched to the fabric. Attachment for sewing machine incorporates means by which spreading and positioning is accomplished.

Melted @tates Patent @nelltsnn pt. T973 SLIDE FASTENER MANUFACTURE [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: Eric Engel Cuckson, Penrith, New UNITED STATES PATENTS South wales, Australia 2,885,774 5 1959 Waldes 29/408 [73] Assignee: Scovill Manufacturing Company,

Waterbury, Conn. Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Att D ll tt H 22 Filed: June 5, 1972 a e oopes U-shaped fastener elements are held against fabric with [52] U.S. Cl 29/408, 29/2075, 1 12/105, h i h d in same, the legs of the elements are 1 12/265 spread and the elements are stitched to the fabric. At- [51] Ill 1t. Cl B23p 11/00, 823p 19/04 tachment f Sewing machine incorporates means by [58] Field of Search 29/4l0182,/i2g;.525; which Spreading and positioning is accomplished 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures I SLIDE F ASTENER MANUFACTURE This invention relates to a method and apparatus for securing a line of slide fasteners to a web of fabric. The invention has special application in the securing of a line of slide fasteners directly to a garment without the conventional intervening tape.

In the prior art, there have been some attempts to devise means for applying a line of slide fastener elements directly to the fabric of an apparel, for instance, without an intervening tape. An example is shown in the Cowdrey US. Pat. No. 3,600,767. In the prior art structures, however, there has been unreliability of the resulting fastener. This has been due primarily to the absence of stabilizing means uniformly spacing the fastener elements. While attempts have been made to overcome this problem by inserting a bulky stuffer cord, the resulting structure has been more expensive and difficult to operate, and has been cumbersome.

Under the present invention, there is provided simple means for applying to the fabric of a garment, or to a tape, or other web, a fastener already carrying its own inherent uniform spacing means; hence, there is no need for bulky stuffer cords or other stabilizing means and the result is a compact fastener which operates easily and is economical to produce.

An essential feature of the invention is that it is adapted for use with a ladder-type line of fastener elements such as shown in the U. S. Pat. No. 3,414,948 to Eric Cuckson and Arthur Jones. In this patent, there is shown a line of fastener elements comprising U- shaped elements having the ends of their legs connected respectively to two parallel cords. The presence of these cords in the assembly uniformly spaces the elements and gives them stability against tipping or other displacement.

Under the present invention, such lines of fastener elements as are generally shown in the art are easily attached to fabric by a simple method and apparatus described hereinafter.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from a review of the following specification, including the drawings, all disclosing a non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. I shows an apparatus embodying the invention in a front perspective view;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the assembly taken at the stitching station; and

FIG. 4 is a view of the final product.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, an apparatus embodying the invention is generally designated in FIG. 1. It is mounted on a sewing machine having a bed B and a needle N with thread T. Extending down from the sewing machine assembly is the presser foot shank S to which is adjustably attached at its lower end a mounting clamp 12 supporting the housing 14.

The housing 14 is enlarged at its rightward end as shown in FIG. 1, and its underside is formed with two upwardly directed channels 16 and 18. Preferably, the channel 18 includes the groove 20 for reasons which will appear. As shown in FIG. 2, the channels 16 and 18 are divided by a partition 22 which thickens at its frontward end 22a as the needle station NS is approached. Beyond the partition there is a window 24 in 2 the upper wall of the housing which permits a driving tongue 26 to protrude into the housing. As diagrammed on the side of the tongue 26 in FIG. 11, the tongue preferably has a rectangular motion pattern as shown.

As shown in operation, the fabric F is placed on the bed 8 of the sewing machine. Adjacent the line of stitching, the bed B is formed with a ridge R. The line of fasteners L comprises a plurality of U-shaped elements E, the legs of which are joined by stabilizing cords C. One leg may be formed with a projection P in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the cord. In the bight of each of the elements, there is formed a head H for inter-engagement with adjacent heads of a similar line.

In operation, the lines are placed with the heads of each element standing on the fabric adjacent the ridge R. The lines are then fed into the housing with the legs respectively sliding through the channels l6, 18, projection P being received into the groove 20 and helping to hold the elements in place. As shown in FIG. 2, the thickening of the partition 22 at 22a wedges the legs of the U-shaped elements open so that they are spread, and by the time the elements reach the needle station NS (FIG. 2), the needle is able to come down between the legs (FIG. 3) and secure the elements by stitches near the head H to the fabric F. The tongue 26 engages each of the elements E in step-by-step fashion to move them toward the needle station. The resulting product, as shown in FIG. 4, is a line of elements E stabilized by the cords C, stitched by thread T to the fabric F. This thus makes an invisible fastener of remarkable exactness and workability.

It should be noted that with or without shaping means as necessary, the elements E return to their legstogether disposition. The fabric 1F may be folded as shown in FIG. 4.

There is thus presented an apparatus and method for attaching the above-described line of fasteners directly to the fabric of a piece of apparel. The apparatus and method are simple and economical.

I-Iaving described the invention in one form, it should be clear that it is not so limited but is encompassed by the following claim language:

We claim:

11. A method of applying a line of slide fastener elements to a web of fabric, the line of slide fastener elements comprising plastic U"-sh.aped elements, the ends of the U"-shaped elements being secured respectively to a pair of parallel stabilizing cords, the bights of the U-shaped elements each having an enlarged head adapted to engage between two adjacent identical heads on a similar line, the process comprising the steps of:

a. placing the line of elements on the web of fabric with the bights of the elements engaging the fabric and the legs of the elements extending upward;

b. spreading the legs of the elements;

c. securing the elements to a fabric by extending a sewing machine needle down between the spread legs and thereby forming a line of stitches, stitching each element to the fabric by one leg adjacent the head; and

d. causing the elements to resume their original U- shaped configuration.

2. The method as'described in claim I wherein the I spreading and the stitching are accomplished continuously and progressively along the line.

3. Apparatus for securing a line of slide fastener elements to a web of fabric, wherein the line of slide fastener elements comprise plastic U-shaped elements, the ends of the U-shaped elements being secured respectively to a pair of parallel stabilizing cords, the bights of the U-shaped elements each having an enlarged head adapted to engage between two adjacent identical heads on a similar line, the apparatus comprising a sewing machine having a surface for supporting the fabric and line during the securing operation and having means for moving the fabric and line, presser foot means for holding down the fabric and line and means for guiding it during sewing, the guiding means comprising a pair of channels extending upward from the lower end of the presser foot means, the channels adapted to receive the rows of legs of the U-shaped elements respectively so that the LP-shaped elements are disposed on their heads on the fabric, the channels diverging as the sewing machine needle is approached to spread the legs of the elements so that the needle can stitch the elements to the fabric between the legs.

4. For a sewing machine, an attachment for sewing a line of U-shaped fastener elements of a slide fastener to a fabric web comprising a housing, means supporting the housing against the fabric over the sewing machine bed, the housing having in its under side a pair of sideby-side channels generally in line with the needle, the channels being adapted to receive the rows of legs respectively of the U"-shaped elements with the heads of the elements resting on the fabric, the channels diverging to spread the legs prior to the sewing operation so that the needle can stitch between the legs. 

1. A method of applying a line of slide fastener elements to a web of fabric, the line of slide fastener elements comprising plastic ''''U''''-shaped elements, the ends of the ''''U''''-shaped elements being secured respectively to a pair of parallel stabilizing cords, the bights of the ''''U''''-shaped elements each having an enlarged head adapted to engage between two adjacent identical heads on a similar line, the process comprising the steps of: a. placing the line of elements on the web of fabric with the bights of the elements engaging the fabric and the legs of the elements extending upward; b. spreading the legs of the elements; c. securing the elements to a fabric by extending a sewing machine needle down between the spread legs and thereby forming a line of stitches, stitching each element to the fabric by one leg adjacent the head; and d. causing the elements to resume their original ''''U''''-shaped configuration.
 2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the spreading and the stitching are accomplished continuously and progressively along the line.
 3. Apparatus for securing a line of slide fastener elements to a web of fabric, wherein the line of slide fastener elements comprise plastic ''''U''''-shaped elements, the ends of the ''''U''''-shaped elements being secured respectively to a pair of parallel stabilizing cords, the bights of the ''''U''''-shaped elements each having an enlarged head adapted to engage between two adjacent identical heads on a similar line, the apparatus comprising a sewing machine having a surface for supporting the fabric and line during the securing operation and having meAns for moving the fabric and line, presser foot means for holding down the fabric and line and means for guiding it during sewing, the guiding means comprising a pair of channels extending upward from the lower end of the presser foot means, the channels adapted to receive the rows of legs of the ''''U''''-shaped elements respectively so that the ''''U''''-shaped elements are disposed on their heads on the fabric, the channels diverging as the sewing machine needle is approached to spread the legs of the elements so that the needle can stitch the elements to the fabric between the legs.
 4. For a sewing machine, an attachment for sewing a line of ''''U''''-shaped fastener elements of a slide fastener to a fabric web comprising a housing, means supporting the housing against the fabric over the sewing machine bed, the housing having in its under side a pair of side-by-side channels generally in line with the needle, the channels being adapted to receive the rows of legs respectively of the ''''U''''-shaped elements with the heads of the elements resting on the fabric, the channels diverging to spread the legs prior to the sewing operation so that the needle can stitch between the legs. 